Tbaction-vehicle



W. F. DREXLER AND E. BESSLER. TRAcUoN VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13, 1917.

l ,$06,884. y Patented June 17, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. F. DREXLER AND E. BFSSLERY TRACTION VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. I3. I9I7.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- PanIII-June 17, 1919.

W. F. DREXLER AND E. BESSLERIv TRACTION VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED AuG.I3. 1911.

uw T E E H 4 S T E F. H S 3 45 same parts in all of the views:

'WILLliAlVI F. DREXLER AND EMIL BESSLER, 0F IVIORTON, ILLINOIS.

maremma-VEHICLE.

Lacasse.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 1'? 1919..

Application filed August 13, 1917. Serial No. 185,856.

To all whom t 'may concern Be it known that We, WILLIAM F. DRExLER and EMUA Bussum, citizens of the United i States, residents of Morton, in the county of Tazewell and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Traction- Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention has reference to a traction vehicle in which is combined a traction mechanism and operating means therefor, by means of which the vehicle may be intervchangeable used as a tractor, or as a truck.

The traction mechanism is preferably of that type which includes traction wheels having rubber tires which are preferably used when the vehicle is used as a truck, and a pair of broad endless-tracks, or exible endless-belts which are laid down b the vehicle as, it advances, and prefera ly used when the .vehicle is used as a tractor, and upon which broad tracks the weight of the vehicle is supported.

One of the objects of the present invention is to capab e of being extended when it is desired to use the vehicle as a truck, and retracted when it is desired to use the vehicle as a tractor, the springs or bearing supports being connected with the movable members o said frame. Y l

The invention has for a further object to provide an operating means for the traction mechanism including changeable speed gearing, whereby, when the vehicle is used as a truck, a high speed may be obtained, and a much lower speed obtained when the vehicle is used as a tractor.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of the improved traction vehicle and its parts and combinations as 'set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof. f' In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the Figure 1 is a plan View of our improved vehicle, the full lines showing the same when used as a tractor, and the dotted lines showing the frame extended for use as a truck:

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the members con- 1 situting one side of the vehicle frame, the

parts extended for use as a truck;

i Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a Vertical transverse sectional rovide the vehicle with frame parts' view as the same would appear if taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View of certain gearing on the driving shaft.

The side frames of the vehicle comprise the rails 1 and 2, preferably channel beams with their smooth vertical faces disposed back to back whereby, the rails 2 may slide easily on and longitudinally of the rails 1. Whenthe rails 2 are retracted, as in Figs. l and 2, the vehicle is intended for use as a tractor, and when extended as in Figs. 3 and 4, the vehicle is intended for use as a truck. To the inner ends of the rails 2 are detachably secured the depending brackets 3 which are adapted to be bolted, by bolts 4, to simi- `lar brackets 5 secured to the rails l, when the rails 2 are retracted and bolted by bolts 6, to brackets 7 secured to the rear ends of the rails 1, when the rails 2 are extended.

The brackets 7 overhang the rails 1 and have depending body portions inwhich are openings 8 through which the rails 2 may slide. The upper end portions of the brackets 7 have bearings 9 in which are journaled the axially alined transversely disposed counter-shaft sections 10 and l0, the meeting ends of which are coupled so as to operate in unison or independently of each other, see Fig. 5. The lower end portionsof the brackets 7 having bearings in which are journaledI the opposite ends of a driving shaft 12, adapted to receive its power from a gasolene motor, not shown, or from any other suitable source.

Keyed or otherwise suitably connected with the outer ends of the counter shaft sections 10 and 10L are sprocket wheels 13 of the usual type for receiving the ordinary and well known endless chains 14, and other sprocket wheels 15, of a type to receive the broad endless-tracks or flexible endless belts 16 which are designed to be laid down by the vehicle as it advances, Aand upon which broad tracks the weight of the vehicle is supported.

' ySecured to the ends of the shaft 12 and spaced a suitable distance from the brackets 7 are collars 17 and hung on said shaft adjacent said collars 17 are arms 18. On said shaft 12 between the arms 18 and the brack-4 ets 7 are loosely carried the spaced sprocket wheels 19 and 20, ofdifferent diameters, and between the said sprocket wheels 19 and 20 and keyed or otherwise suitably secured to the said shaft l2 are the disks or plates 21,

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The bodies et' the sprocket wheels 19 and 90 are each provided with alinerl transverse openings and said openings are alincd with and correspond to threaded openings 23 disposed trai'isversely through the disks or plates 2l. threaded pin or bolt 2lis used for keying the. sprocket wheel 15) with the disk or plate 2l, or for keying the sprocket wheel 20 with said disk or plate 2l, when applied as shown in tull or dotted lines in Fig. (i. On the end ot one of the counter shaft sections l0 or l0 may be at tached the pulley wheel 2l, see Fig. 5, if desired. To each of the shaft sections l0 and l0, are connected the friction brake drums 25, ot' any well known construction, the same being controlled in the usual manner by means ot the brake rods 2G, from suitable operating means, not shown.

The traction wheels 27 are of a usual construction having the rubber tires 28 and 'arried on the outer ends ot an axle .29

which is preferably hung or suspended from Springs 30, the opposite ends of which are connected with and have movement in hangers 3l secured to the trent and rear ends ot the rails 2, as shown. The hangers 31 tor the forward ends ot' the springs 250 are t'or conveniem-e made as a part ot the brackets 3, as shown. To extend the rails 2 tor the purpose of using the trame as a truck, it is necessary to remove the brackets 3 and replace them after the rails :2 have been slid through the brackets 7, see Fig. l, as will bc understood. To each traction wheel 27 is secured a large sprocket wheel 32, ot' a type similar to the sprocket wheels l!) and connected therewith by the ordinary and well known sprocket chains 33. The sprocket chains llconnect the sprocket wheels 1B with the smaller sprocketwheels 20, while the broad endless-tracks or flexible belts 1 6 pass trom the sprocket wheeisl over and part way around the rubbcrtires L3 on the traction wheels 27, a suitable distance along the yground to lay a track on which the. weight ot the vehicle is supported` part way around idler wheels S-l and to the sprocket l wheels l5, These idler wheels are journaled on short shafts` 35 having a hearing inbloeks and also an arm 2li hung trom the axle 2) on which the traction wheels are carried. Loosely inserted into the upper ends ot' the blocks 3b are the arms itl, and on said arms 18 between a collar Btl and the upper ends of the blocks Elli, are coil springs 3S), the function oi which, as is well known, is to keep thc endlessstracks or flexible belts 'iti taut.

When the vehicle is used as a tractor the trame is shorti ned and appears as shown in Fig. 2. .ln this arrangement it is preferable to reduce the speed ot the operating means, and the pins 2st are secured into the threaded openings 23 in the disks or plates 2l` through the sprocket wheels Q0, keying said sprocket wheels to the driving shaft l2. The power is then transmitted from the driving shaft l2 through the counter shaft sections 10 and l0 to the sprocket Wheels l5 thereon and to the broad emllless-tracks or fieiiible endless-belts 16.

When the vehicle is used as a truck thev sprocket wheels 1S), keying said sprocketv wheels to the driving shaft l2. The power is then transmitted direct from the shaft l2 through the sprocket wheels 19 and the chains 33 to the sprocket wheels To use the pulley wheel Zia, the shaft sections 10 and l0a should be pinned together, by a pin 24h, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the sprockets 13 and 20 connected, and the tracks 16 removed.

When the vehicle `is used as a tractor, the hitch short, and the traction Wheels and tracks being in advance ot' the idler wheels, little trouble will be experienced in passing over objects. Further, the operator may lock one ot the brake drums 25 and permit the vehicle to turn in a very small space, as will be understood with mechanism ot' this character.

What we claim is:-

1. A traction-vehicle, comprising a frame including side rails adapted to be extended, whereby the vehicle may be used as a. truck, and retracted` whereby the vehicle may be used as a tractor, a traction mechanism including traction wheels and broad endlesstracks, and au operating means 'for said traction mechanism, said operating means including changeable speed gearing adapted for giving a. greater speed to the trac-tion mechanism when the vehicle isnsed as'a truck, than when used as a tractor.

2. A traction-vehicle, comprising a frame including side rails adapted to be extended, whereby the vehicle may be used as a truck, and retracted, whereby the vehicle may be used as a tractor, a traction .mechanism including rubber tire traction wheels and broad endlesstracks passing around said wheels, an operating means including interchangeable driving parts, one ofsuch parts adapted to drive the traction wheels direct when the vehicle is used as a truck, and the' other of such parts adapted to drive the broad endlcss-tracks when the vehicle is used as a tractor.

3. A traction-vehicle comprising a frame, a traction mechanism including 'rubber tire said gearing to said driving shaft for driving the vehicle directly through the traction wheels, or through the `endlesstracksw 4. A traction-vehicle, comprising a frame, a traction mechanism including rubber tire traction `wheels and broad endless-tracks passing around said Wheels, a. driving shaft, a counter shaft, means for actuating the traction Wheels direct from the driving shaft, means for actuating the endless tracks from the counter-shaft, means for operating the counter-shaft from the driving shaft, idler wheels for guiding the endless-tracks from the traction wheels around the counter shaft, said idlers so positioned as to cause the endless-tracks to travel some distance on the ground, and means for yieldingly holding the idler wheels to their work.

5. A traction-vehicle, including a frame having side rails of two memlbers each, one member of each of said side rails adapted to be moved alongside of and longitudinally of the other member, brackets secured to the rear ends of the immovable rail members and having overhanging depending portions through which the movafble rail members slide, brackets secured to the forward ends of :both the immovable and movable. rail memIbers which are adapted to be secured together When the movable rail members are retracted, said brackets'on the forward ends ofv said movable rail memlbers also adapted to 'be 'bolted to the 'brackets on the rear ends of said immovable rail members when said movable rail members have been extended.

6. A traction vehicle,y comprising a. frame having side rails of two members each, one member of each of said side rails adapted to Ibe moved alongside of and longitudinally of the other member, brackets secured to the rear ends of the immovable rail memibers and having' overhanging {depending portions through which the movablel rail members slide, bracket members secured to the forward and rear ends-:of said movable rail members, said 'bracket members on the forward ends of said movable rail lmembers adapted to be secured to the bracket members on the 'rear ends of the immovable rail members When said mova-ble rail members are retracted, springs connected 'with the brackets on said movable rail members, traction wheels connected with said springs, a driving shaft journaled on the brackets on said immovable rail members, and means for actuating the trarction Wiheels from; said driving shaft.

7. A Itraction-veliicle, comprising a frame, traction wheels spring connected with said frame, broad endless-tracks passing around.

said wheels, la driving shaft, counter shaft, friction brake nected `with each section of said counter shaft and means for controlling same, sprocket wheels on said counter shaft sections for actuating said endless-tracks, two pairs of sprocket wheels normally loose on said driving shaft, means connecting one sprocket wheel of each pair on the driving shaft with a section of said counter shaft, means connecting the other sprocket wheel of each pair on the driving shaft With a traction wheel, means for interchangeably connecting corresponding sprocket Wheels of each pair on the driving shaft therewith, and yieldingly retained idler wheels forsaid endlesstracks.

In witness whereof, We have hereunto affined our hands this 3rd day of August, 191

WILLIAM F. DREXLER. EMIL BESSLER.

a two-part drums con- 

